UNCANNY ADVENTURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1917, Page 3

UNCANNY ADVENTURE.

A French Airman’s Escape. Paris. Adjutant Pilot Puech has just beeu recommended for the Military Medal and Lieut. Saintot for the Waa Cross, in recognition of their 1 coolness and bravery during an extraordinary adventure in the air. They were carrying out observations over the German lines; when an enemy machine suddenly opened fire , upbn them, and a bullet from a machine-gun rendered their motor useless. The German machine, which , was the faster of the two, barred the i way to the French lines, but Puech, L veering almost perpendicularly, ’ passed at full speed under his ad- ■ versary. He landed 150 yards from the Ger--1 man trenches, followed by tbe enemy ; pilot, wbo, descending almost to tbe : ground, fired point-blank at tbe Frenchman. Puecb, jumping out, t started to make for safety, but, look--1 ing back, saw Saintot standing up- ' right in the apparatus firing his last . cartridge to protect the retreat of his s friend. The pilot at once returned, and refused to desert Lis comrade, f Astonished at this magnificent ex--1 hibition of courage, the Germans stopped firing, only to begin a second later, and with a terrible fusilade l riddled the fallen aeroplane. The " two Frenchmen, however, miracul--0 ously escaped injury, and after den stroying their plans and documents, 0 began crawling towards their own ® lines. © The Germaus commenced to give t chase, but they were sent scampering ® back to their trenches by heavy fire t- from machine-guns and “ seventyfives ” and tbe brave French officers y got home unwounded after four hours’ teri’ible experience.